Shivamogga: 8 dead after massive explosion in stone quarry

Shivamogga: A powerful blast caused due to gelatin sticks at a stone quarry near Hunasodu village in the taluk here resulted in the death of 6 workers.

The explosion occurred at around 10:30 pm on January 21. The death toll increased to eight later as per reports.

About 50 gelatin sticks were being carried in a truck when they exploded killing six quarry workers, mostly from Bihar, on the spot. The truck was blown to pieces.

Officials could not reach the blast site due to thick smoke engulfing the entire area. However, other workers at the quarry were able to retrieve the bodies of the dead.

The tremors caused by the blast were felt in places at Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada and Davanagere districts.

Immediately after hearing the sound of the blast and feeling the tremors, residents from nearby villages rushed out of their houses.

Several houses in Shivamogga town sustained damages and roads at Abbalagere town, the place nearest to the blast site, have developed cracks.